Aussie surf lifesavers to join The Queen in Thames Flotilla

Members of Australia's surf lifesaving community will play a key role in Her Majesty The Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations in London next month.
Nine surf boats, crewed by Australian surf lifesavers, will be among the 1,000 vessels in the river-borne celebration of The Queen's 60-year reign on Sunday 3rd June. Participants will row ahead of the Royal Barge, The Spirit of Chartwell, on which The Queen, Duke of Edinburgh and members of the Royal Family will be travelling.
The surf lifesavers involved in the festivities are a mix of members from Australia who are making their own way to the London for this once in a lifetime opportunity and Australian ex-patriates now residing in the United Kingdom.
By taking up the invitation from the Australian High Commission they are also part of a ' bigger story' at the heart of the Australian Government's global 'Australia Unlimited' campaign, which aims to get international audiences to explore a different side of Australia.
Currumbin Surf Life Saving Club member, Caitlin McConnel, will be travelling to London with three Currumbin-based crews for the event.
McConnel "my crew compete in the Under 23 female division and recently won gold at the Queensland Surf Life Saving Championships.
"The other two Currumbin crews compete in the Under 19 and Under 23 men's divisions respectively and have both also had successes in the ASRL Open Championships and the Queensland State Championships.
"We are really excited to be involved in the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, and have received donations from local businesses and family and friends to help us raise the funds for the trip. We can't wait to get to London and show the world the importance of the surf lifesaving movement. We are honoured to be representing Australia."
Surf Life Saving Australia Chief Operating Officer, Peter George, knows the surf lifesavers involved will be great ambassadors for Australia, adding "our members jumped at the chance to take part. Surf Life Saving is such an integral piece of Australian life and it's the perfect activity to showcase at a celebration such as this."
The UK Surf Rowers' League (UKSRL) will supply surf boats to their Aussies counterparts and members from that organisation will be the 'sweeps' (steersmen) on each of the nine boats.